Automatic trap nest



Sept. 22, 1931. v c, LOEHR 1 ,824,557

AUTOMATIC TRAP NEST Filed March 21. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lunw I WI I EIu INVENTOR. C. d. LOEHR A TT ORNE Y.

Sept. 22, 1931. c LOEHR 1,824,557

AUTOMATIC TRAP NEST Filed March 21, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ELE-E JNVENTOR. C. d. LOEHR A TTORNE Y.

Sept. 22,. 1931.

C. J. LOEHR AUTOMATIC TRAP NEST Filed March 21, 1927 Fig.5

4 Sheets-Sheet '25 1 6i i as 4o cu. LOEHR INVEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

' Sept. 22, 1931. c J. LOEHR AUTOMATIC TRAP NEST v Filed March 21, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR C. d. LOEHR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 22, 1931- "GHARLEs-JJ. r'onnnforros Antennas, oALrroRNIA "AUTOMATIC TRAP vnsr Application filed March 21, 1927. Serial No. 116933..

This invention. relates to trap nests. p The general object ofithis invention is to provide an improved trap nest.-. A specific object of this invention is to provide a trap nest;adapted for ordinary for holding. the doors shut and wherein it no egg is laid the hen may at will return:

through the entrance door and wherein upon layingan egg the hen may pass through the exit door. I ,Still. another objectofthis inventio ris to providenovel means for inducing thehen, on entering and leavingthe; nest to actuate the doorsof the nest. 1

Another object of; the invention is to provide a novel form of egg tripped door re taining latch mechanism. Y Y n vAnother object of this invention-is to provide a novel means for converting a tra'p nest device from an ordinary vcommercial trap nest to a p1'ofessional..breeding. trap nest.

A further object provide a novel form of nest my improved trap nest.

bi. this invention is a; for use with Other objects and advantages'ofthis in-,

vention will be apparent fromthefollowing description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein;

Fig.1 is a perspective view of my improved trap'nests'arranged in bat tery formation.

Fig. 2 is arearview of afsingle trapnest showing the exit" door open.

Fig. 3 is meninges. longitudinal vertical section through one .iof 'my' improved trap f apluralityv nests showing the same in a' position for the entrance of a hen. .Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view'of my device showing the various workingparts thereof.

1g. is a section througlr'the trap nest taken on line 5-5 ,ofFig, 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section through my device showing the same in the position it will automatically assume when ahen is on the nest and further shows the egg trip actuated by an egg;

v -Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional Vile showing the exit door of y; device open' to allow thehen to depart I therefroins v 8 is a view similar tojFig/T showing my devioein the position; it assumesavhen the departing hen rests her weighton the exit door. i

Fig-,9 a view of mechanism in a position corresponding to the position of the exit door as shown in Fig. 7. i

Fig; 10 is a view of the exit doonlatch mechanism in a position corresponding to the position of the exit'door as shown in Fig. 11 is a transverse section taken on line 11-1101. Fig. 6. I

- F ig.. 12' is a longitudinal plan section of the trigger. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail yokecarrying portion of the trip mechanism.

' Fig. 1.415: a vertical section taken-on line 1 114fl0f Fig. 18.

Fig. 15 is a to planview of Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a ragmentary verticaljlongitudinal section through the trap nest show ing the parts thereof arranged to trap a laying hen in the nestfor identifying her egg. 7 Fig. 17 isa view similar to Fig. 16 showingthe entrance door held closed by the tilting of the trip mechanism.

I Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the laying nest showing it removed from the trap nest and i Fig. -19

' i 70 the exit door latch view of the is an. enlarged cross section I throughthe catch mechanism and aportion V may be arranged in any desired manner in groups or batteries as shown in Fig.1 of the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1 the trap" nests 7 .10 are arranged side by side and supported,

on rails 11 and 12 of a frame 13. The area outside of the trap nests between the entrance and exit doors is preferably divided as by a partition of wire mesh 14. In the commercial chicken business it particularly desirable to know for a certainty which of the hens are laying and which are not so that the drones may be weeded out, and for professional breedingit is very desirous to have an eliicient trap nest whereby each egg laid can be positively identified with the hen which laid it and for these two purposes this invention is particularly adapted. r

My trap nest 10 includes'side'walls 15,

16, a top member 17 and a partial back '18" (see Fig. arranged to form a chamber 19.

Protruding'outwardly from the rear wall 18 I provide a shelf-like member 18 havi: ing an aperture 18 (Fig.6 )-thereinadj a cent the rear wall 18. The side walls '15 and i 16 may extend downwardly to form legs 20 and 21 which are adapted to be positioned onthe railsll and 12 of the frame 13by providing a slot in the legs. 'The trap nests m'ay be secured to the rails 11 "and 12 as by 'a resilient'catch shown at 22 or in any other suitable manner.

. Adjacent one end of the nest. I provide a transverse member or perch 24 which fits within a notch 25 in either of tie side walls 1.5 and 16 and which may be either secured to the side walls to form a brace or heremovable for the purposewhich will be can plained hereinafter.

The entrance end ofthe chamber 19 is adapted to be closed by a' door 26 having bracket members 27 adjacent each side thereof which are: adapted to pivot on a transverse rod 28 supported-by the side walls 15 and 16. The door is also provided with arms 29 and 30 which extend therefrom adjacent its pivoted end and with a cleat 31 adjacent its free end which also acts as a gripping member for ahen stepping on. the door.

The exit end of the chamber 19is adapted to be closed by a door 32 having bracket members 33 thereon adjacent each end which areadapted to pivot on a transverse rod 34 supported by the walls 15 and 16. The door 32 is also provided with arms 35. and 36 extended therefrom adjacent its pivoted end and a cleat 37 adjacent its free end which acts as a gripping member for ahen standing on the door. A stop 32 for the door 32 is secured to the rear Wall 18 to intercept the closing movement of the door.

The arms 29'a-nd3O of the entrance door 26 have bars 38 and 39 pivotally secured thereto as at 40. These bars extend rearwardly and are slackly' connected to the arms and 36 of the exit door 32 by pro- Vid-ingpins 41 on the arms 35 and 36. Each pin is adapted to work in a slot 42 provided in each ofthe bars 38"and 39.

To add weight to the exit door 32, I provide a counterweight 43 adjacent the free end of one oft-he arms 35 and 36, shown in this instance as being secured to the arm 36. This counterweight deem of particular importance as it enables me to nicely control the doors.

Secured to the arm 35 of the exit door 32 I provide a trigger mechanism indicated generally at 44 adapted to coact with a stationary 'U-shapedmember or staple 45 for holding the exit door 32in v'arious'positions.

The staple 45 is shown as secured to the leg 20-. The trigger 44 comprises aflat body portion 46,0f metal pivotally secured to the arm 35 at 4'8 and having an elongated aperture'49 therein which has in its upper surface a-plu'rality of toothed notches and a notch 51 (see Fig. 10). The plurality of notches 50 are provided to compensate for any chance irregularity in the placement of the staple 45 and forother purposes. 7

Slidably mounted on the body 46 of the trigger I mount a catch 52 (see Figs. 9, 10 and 12) having a slot 531 on its front edge and a'notch- 54, and provided at its rear edge with an extended tongue 55. The tongue 55 is slidably mountedin anoutstruck lug 56 of the'body 46. For normally holding the catch 52 in a forward position I providea spring 57. The forward movement of the catch is limitedbyan upturnedlip 55' on the tongue 55 (see Fig. .12). e For actuating the trigger mechanism 44 I 7 provide atrip indicated generally at'59.

This trip comprises a flat body portion 60 having downturned lips 61 adjacent each end thereof which are pivoted adjacent the side walls 15 and 16 on a rod 62 which is supported in. the side Walls 15 and 16', (see Fig. 3).. The end of the body '60 adjacent the side wall 16 is bent upwardly to form a lip 62 which is positioned between the side wall r 16 and the body 46 of the trigger. This lip prevents the trigger mechanism 44 and the trip 59 from. becoming disassociated from each other, thus preventing any possibility of the trip not actuating the trigger mechanism. V

Protruding rearwardly from thebody 60 I provide a' tongue 63 to which I secure a basket 64 adapted: to receive an egg and deliver it upon the tiltingof the trip 59 to an egg tray 65, which is preferably placed di rectly therebeneath and 'supported on the rails '11 and 12 of the frame 13. "The egg tray may be protected from inquisitive at 65. The arm 65 maybeturnedio'a;

horizontal position asshown in 'Fig. '6'to a1 removal of eggs from thetray 65'. a Thebasket 64- is shown as provided with low the door (35 to be swun'oopen'for the a flap 66 hinged to the basket asby binding it thereto by wires andadapted to ybenor mally held against the under" side of the basket as by a bent wire 67 or "many other suitable manner. The purpose of this flap 66 will be more fully explainedhereinafter.

To prevent an eggfrom rolling out of the basket 64 until afterit-hetri'p 159 has actuated the trigger mechanism I' provide aii'arin 68 on the bar 38 as shown'in Figs. 3 and ll'or in any other suitable "manner! This jarm may be secured to the bar 38 in any (panama-1 ner andis positionedadjacent the lowermost or discharge endof the basket 54. Tomore clearly show other parts of the invention the arm 68' is not shown in any views other than Figs .3 and 111" Extending forward from the body 60 of the trip 59 I provide another tongue 69 bent upwardly at its. free end to form: alip (see Figs. 13, 14 and 15') which has a slot 71 provided with inclined side walls 72. The

lip 70 is bent adjacent the top on eitherside '35 of the walls .72to form projections? 3; each of which are provided with'aslot 74. The material which is cut out to form the slot 71 is bent to form a bearing 75in which I pivotally'mount a semi-resilient yolre'76 having parallel side bars '77. The side bars 77 of the yoke are normally adapted to hang down in an inoperative position as shown'by the broken lines in Fig. '13 and are adapted to be placed in an operative position in the slots 74 of the projections 7 3 as showniirfull lines by grasping their free ends and 'bringing' them together as shown bythebroken'jlines in Fig. 14, so that they will clear the'side'sTQ and move behind the projections73.- T

The purpose of this yoke mechanism will be .more fully described hereinafter, This yoke mechanism also serves as a counterweight to normally urge the basket 64; in a receptive position.- In,.thebar,38 and ex? tending therethrough, provide a pin 78 adapted to coactrwith-rthe yoke 7 6 ina manner which will be morefully explained here inafter. 1 j

Within the previously mentioned chamber 19 I provide a' laying nestindicated gener-r ally at 80; This nest includes a frame 8l' supported adjacent the rear thereof on the, 1 transverse rod 34 and adjacent ithewfront 80' replaced in'the chamber19.

endby' tongues 82, which rest on ajtransverse bar ,83 of the entrance door 261" Th rframeincludes parallel sideb 5 4' each pivotally secured "as at to a-ffront transversejbar' 86 "and removably attached to a" rear transverse ba-r 87 by bolts 88 provided with owing nuts 89 on the underside of the bar 87, The tongues- 82; are securedto the front ;bar 86 infamy desired 'mannerand support the front of the nest; The rear bar 87 Tests on the transverse rod 34;as pie-- viouslymentioned and the body portion of the wing-11uts-89 abutthe front portion of mentof the nest fraine:

the rod 34, and prevent-any--rearward move- The" side bars 84 of the frame are'provided with grooves' '9O' in which side flanges 91of the nest body 92 are-adaptedto"be positioned I (see Fig. 19) l The body 92 slopes toward the longitudinal-center of the nest and towardsltheire'ar'where it is left open; To: partly obstruct the rear opening of the nest I-provi'de a bafileiplate 98 wl1ich is provided with an" aperture 94 of sufiicientsize to allow an egg to pass therethroughu 1 This bafile plate193'is removably secured by members 98-" 'to the r'ear transverse bar 87 of the frame '8 1 and is so positioned as to place the most rearward'iportion of the aperture 94'inadvanc'e" of the rear extremityof the body 9 92: "Thisfipr'events an inquisitive hen fromjprotruding her -head through the aperture94 andactuating thetrigger mechanism 7 l4 and itl'a'lso' prevents 'her' feet from acc identally actuating the trigger mechanismg The b0dy 92 "of the nest' and-the b'afile' plate -93- are. preferably: made of I a semi resilient-fibrous material such as 'ordinary cardboard. impregnated with material such asformaldehyde but may be made of any other material. suitable for the purpose. The entire nest 80 may be removed "from the chamber 19 for cleaning fumigating or for "To Freplace thebody 92 one of'the wing nuts 89 ,andjone of'thebolts 88 is removed andthen the frame 81-maybe opened as shownby the broken lines in Figfi1 8. When the-frame is open the old body '92 may be removed and anew one placed-in position i in the-frame,;the frame closed and secured again by theEbOltand-wing nut andthe nest VVithin-the chamber 19 and extending transversely thereof l may provide adja-' cent "theexit a ourftain' IOO pivotall hung frOmga transverse; rod 101 and restricted from =forward movement by pins 102v==in the sidewalls 15 and 16. The lower edge trance asimilar curtain 104 pivotally hung f'r'om a transverse rod-105 and providedm its lower {edge with a cut; away portion 106 Also if deemed Ici ' tioned in one of the notches 5.0 of the trig-f similar tothe cut away portion 103 ofjcuia tain 1001 Unlike the exit curtain lOOrthe entrance curtain is free to swing either rearwarclly or forwardly. V

Whenthe trap nest is set up foroper ation asshown inFig. 3, the exit door 32 isin aclosed position and the entrance door 26' isin an open positiornhandthe trigger mechanism 44 and, basket 64 assumethepos sitions shown in Fig. 3. ,l/Vhen in this position the staple is adapted to be posigerme'chanism to prevent the exit door '32 from swinging open. r y

lVhen a hen desires to enter the trap nest she. jumps upon the open entrance door' 26, steps upon or over the perch 24 and thence into the nest 80. lVhen the hen rests upon the nest 80 the front end of which is supported on the bar 83 n the door 26 the latter'moves about the rod 28 and swingsto a closed .position as shown in Fig, 6. If the hendoes not'l-ayan egg, she will, when" she desires to leave the nest, look above the top edge of the entrance doorvandstep upon the perch 24, thus removing hen weight from thev nest 80, the front end of which wi-llthen rise and allow the entrance door toswing to an open position whereupon the hen may depart from the trap nest.

If the hen does lay an egg the egg will rolldown the incline of the nest and strike againstthebasket 64 as shownin dotted lines at A in Fig. 3. .lVhen the egg comes to rest against the rearof thebasket'64 its weight will cause the basket which is nicely balanced to lower, thus tiltingv the trip 59 sothat a portion of the body strikes against'the lower edge of the-trigger mechanism 44. and tilts it upwardly-to move the notch.50 away from the. staple 45 as shown Fig. 6. J lVhen the trigger mechanism 44 is released from the staple 45 the exit door. 32.swings open, withthe pin 41 moving in slots 42 and thetrigger mechanisni44. assumes the position. shownin Figs. 7 and 9. In this posinon the staple 45 isdisposed in the notch 51 and the trigger. mechanism 44 v is prevented. from further forward movement by theinclined wall" ofnotch 54 in the catch 52 abutting; the staple 45. The spring 57 is strong enough in, this partiallycompressed position to prevent any further movement of the door 32 untilthe departing hen steps upon the door. ';Wlie n the, basket tilts and actuates the trigger mechanism- 44 the egg rolls-outof the basket and is deposited in the egg tray Due to the weight on the arm-of the exit door; at this point resistance is oife'red which allows the trigger mechanism to function.

1 As the-hen-steps up'on theexit door 32her V weight moves farther down consequently forcing the trigger mechanisnr44 farther .leasing. the trigger mechanism.

forward to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 10. As the trigger mechanism is moved fartherforward the catch 52 is forced rearward againstthe action of the spring 57 and the trigger ridesup on theinclined surface of notch 51 to release it from the staple 45 and position it in the notch 53 of the catch 52.

hen the hen leaves the exit door 32 upon release ofher weight therefrom, the counterweight 43 will cause the rear door to turn about 1 the rod 34 to close which action through the medium of bars 38 and 39 will enable the entrance door 26 toopen again so that another hen may enter the trap nest.

As the exit door closes and the trigger mechanism 44 moves rear'wardly urged by the spring 57 the staple 45 is retained in the notch 53 of catch 52 until the notch 51 passes the staple whereupon it is disposed in the elongated slot 49 of the body 46 and positioned in one of the notches '50 when the trigger 44 reaches the limit of its rearward movement, thus becoming set again to function when another egg is deposited in the basket 64. g 7

As shown in Figs. 3 and 16 of the drawings the entrance door 26 is restricted from further downward movement when in an open position by the coaction of the pivot 40 and the rear edge of the door abutting the bars 38 and 39 and by the rod 28. The

exit door when in a full open position as shown in Fig. 8 is prevented from further downward movement by providing pins 96 adjacent the lower ends of the arms 35 and 36 which are adapted-to abut the under sideof the bars38 and 39. a 7 "As; the'hen leaves the chamber 19 and stands uponthe exit door 32 the shelf-like member 18' will not allow her to stand erect so consequently she will be compelled to put her full weight upon the door thereby remember 18? prevents any other inquisitive hen from flying upon the exit door and releasing the trigger while the laying hen remains in the nest.

Wheh the curtain 100 is in place across the chamber 19 a departing hen must lower her head to pass therebenea'th but when a portion of the hen strikes the curtain it will swingupward and rearwardly and allow her to pass' After thehenhas passed the curtain it; will swing down again and the pins 102 will present it from swinging forward Also the thus' preventing' the hen from re-entering the nest.

'lheentrance curtain 104 is placed above the perch 24 and will rest on the back of an entering or non-laying departing hen, making her uncomfortable :and thus causing her to either enter or depart from the trap nest. When the trap nestis to be used to retain a laying hen therein for the purpose of'identifying the egg, as previously set forth the yoke 'ZG is positioned. the slots 74ofthe projections'73 of the lip 70 which is formed "on thetongue69of the trip mechanism 59 as shown in Figs. 13 to 17 inclusive. 'A pin. 108 is placed in the aperture 18 of the shelf 18}? and the flap 66 of the egg basket "64 is raised to form an Obstruction across the .discharge end of ithe basket as shown in Figs.

"16 and 17.

When the entrance door 26' is open as I shown in Fig. 16 the'hen may enter the nest causingthe entranceldoor toclose as previously described and if she does notlay trip the trigger 4A and release the exit door 32. The pin 8 prevents the exit door from opening as shown in Fig. 17 and the arms 77 of the yoke 76 havingbeen moved up Wardly by the tilting ofthe trip 59 are positioned in the pathof the pin 78 on the bar 38 and preventthe entrance door 26 from opening when the hen tries todepart from the trap nest.

* i If it is desired to retain a hen in the trap nest Whether'she lays anegg or not the fciated With-said exit door,i a spring associated with said trigger for moving 1 said.

perch 24 may be removed, the pin' 108 placed in the aperture 18 and then the hens Weight on the nest 80 will keep the anisin being adapted to'reta'in said exit door entrance door 26 closed and the pin '10S'will "door. From the momentum the upper part prevent the exit door 32' from'opening.

'It will be noted .from the foregoing de-1 scription that the back door does not depend on any other means for its closing; The

of the door fallsfar enough to allo'w the locking mechanism'to hold the doorin" a partly op en*position, "thereby leaving a greater Weight on thelower part ofthe door in said positiontha'nthere is "on'fthe upper part of'said door, so thatwhen a hens Weight is removed from the door -in'f't-his vposition, the counterwei ght. (counterbalan egg she. cannot departfrom the trap nestbecause her Weight .Will retainjthe' en-- trance door in .a closedpositio'n. But if fances'the ,upper part of the door and; this returns the door towardits closing position.

The force is suflicient to bring the door to a vertical position where it i lock My improved trap nestm'ay also be em-'- ployed to retain therein anon-laying heir and release a laying hen. To operate the "trap nest for this purpose the perch 245i? removed and as ,thehen stepsupon the nest-f" 1 80*the entrance door will be,,cl0sed as pre-' v associatedzwitl said exitydoor, a laying nest insaid receptacle, means whereby the Weight;

viously described. If the hen does not lay thehen does lay anegg' it'willfactuate the open position.

nest and means fto' 'nesttosaidwtri'p. i I I Ina trap nest including a receptacle, an

scribed to free, the exit door 32 and allow it to open whereupon the hen may depart from the trap nest as previously described.

After'thehens Weight-is removed from' the exit door 32it1will automatically close and allowthe entrance door 26to open where} "upon the trapnestis set'for another hen,

1 The back of the nest is practically sta- "tionary While'the front of the nest needs to move through anarc of- I1 y' approximatly which move as much as three inches;

-' "It will be understood that the r material of which the various parts of my, improved,

trap nest are :made may be wood, metal or 'the'material forms no "Part Of the invention. ,7

- From the foregoing description it will laying nest in said receptacle, an 'entrance .door to said receptacle, an exit door from said "receptacle, a trigger mechanism assotrigger in onedirection, said trigger mechin both a closed position and ma partly open position, and "egg operated means adapted'to actuate said trigger mechanismto cause said exit door to move to partly I QBA-ltrapnest including a receptacle, a laying nest in' saidreceptacle, anentrance said'freceptacle', a trigger' mechanism including coacting sliding members and "be 'apparent thatI have provideda novel trap nest which-is sturdy, econoinicalan'd efiicient in operation and which maybe used *in; a variety; of Ways for different purposes. @WVhat I claim is:

' lbA'trap nest including a receptacle, a;

door'to said receptacle, an exit door front;

exit door 'to operate'said door,-said mech.

anismbeing arranged beneath'said laying nes't,-'said trigger mechanism being-adapted to retain said exitdoor in a closed position "and in a partly o'pen position, a trip adapted 'toactuatesaid trigger mechanism to allow z saidexitdoorto -move to partly open posi-i f tion, 'said trip being" adapted to be 1 actufatedfby an egg laid by a hen in-said laying guidean egg from said entrance door for saidreceptacle, an exit door for said 'receptacle, ;a latch mechanism of'a hen upon said nest closes said entrance "door, mea'ns-"Whereby'a hen' not laying an egg may depart from'fsaid nest through-said trigger mechanism j "as previously deentranlce door, means whereby an egg :laid'by 130 closed position.

ahen in said laying host will actuate said latch to unlock said .exit door which will automatically assume a. partly open position and means whereby when said exit door is in said partly open position it will automatically retain said entrance door i-n a 4. A trap nest including a receptacle, a laying nest in said receptacle, an entrance door for said receptacle, means to, retain said entrance door in a closed position .by

the weight of al en in said laying nest, an

exit door for said receptacle, an exit door control mechanism associated with said exit door and adapted to retain said exit door in a closed position, egg operated means adapted to actuate said door control mechanism to allow said exit door to move .to

' whereby when said exit door is opened said I partly open position, a catch mechanism associated with said door control mechanism adapted to retain said exit door in a partly open position after said egg operated means has been actuated, means to release said catch mechanism by movement of said exit door through the weight of a hen upon said ;exit

door and means to open said entrance door and close said exit door. 7'

5. In a trap nest, asupport, a laying vreceptacle, a laying nest pivotally mounted to control movement of said exit door, said means including a trigger-mechanism, said means including an egg receiving trip, said trip servingto release said trigger through the weight of an eggthereonand allow said exit door to move to an open position auto-h maticallyuby its own weight, and means entrance door is temporarily held closed by said exit-door. I Y

.6. A trap nest in luding a chamber, a! -laying nest in said chamber, an entrance door at one end of said chamber adaptedto be closed and retained in a closed position 1 byv the weight ofa hen in said laying host,

an exit door at the other end of said chamher, a trigger mechanism associated with said exit door and adapted to retain said exit door in a closed position, a trip adapted to actuate said trigger mechanism to allow said exit door to open, said trip being adapted to be actuated by an egg laid by a hen in said laying IlQSt,i21 catch mechanism associated with 7 said, trigger mechanismadapted-to retain said exit door. in a partly.

' open position,after'saidftriggerhas been leased-"by the. weight of a hen upon said exit door and means whereby when the door at one end of sai weight" of said hen is removed from said exit. door said door will automatically close.

7. A trap nest including a receptacle, a laying nest in said receptacle, an entrance to retain said door in a closed position by the weight of a lien in said laying nest, an exit door at the other end of said receptacle, a trigger mechanism associated with said exit door and adapted to retain said exit door in a closed position, a 'tripadapted to actuate said trigger mechanism to allow said exit door to open, said trip being adapted to be receptacle, means actuated by an egg laid by a hen in said;v

laying nest, a catch mechanism associated with said trigger mechanism adapted to retain said exit door in a partly open position after said trigger has been actuated by said trip, said catch being releasable by the:

weight of a hen upon said exit door, whereby when the weight of said hen is removed fromsaid exit door said door will automatically close.

8. A trap nest door for said receptacle, means to retain said door ina closed'position by the weight of a hen in said layingfnest, an exit door at the other :end of said receptacle, a trigger mecha-- trigger has been actuated by said trip, said-- catchbeing releasable by the weight of alien .upon "said exit door whereby whenihe weight of a hen is removed from said exit door said door will automatically close,

means connecting said entrance door and sand ex tdoor whereby upon theclosing of said exit door said entrance door will automatically be opened;

:9. A trap nest including a receptacle, a

laying nest in said receptacle, a trigger mech;

anism associated with, said exit door, said .exit door being pivoted to move of its own gh tOan open position, said trigger mechanismbeing adapted to retainsaid exit .rdoo r n both aclosed position and a. artly' open position, eggoperatedmeans a apted to actuate said trigger mechanism to cause said exit door to move toa partly open'position, said trigger :mechanism being adapted to retain said-exitidoor in. a partly open position and to prevent said exit door from clos- 10.' Aft-rap nest including areceptacle, a

laying nest in said receptacle, an entrance g including a receptacle, alaying nest in said receptacle, an entrance inguntilpafter said exit door ismovedto a fully openiposition. l actuated by said trip,,said catch being redoor to open said entrance door and close said exit door.

11. A trap nest including a receptacle having a laying nest and an entrance door, an exit door, a trigger mechanism associated with said exit door and adapted to retain said exit door in a closed position, a trip adapted to release said trigger mechanism to allow said exit door toopen, a catch mechanism' associated with said trigger mechanism adapted to retain said exit door in a partly open position after said trigger has been actuated by said trip, said catch being releasable by movement caused by the weight of a henupon said exit door.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature. i

CHARLES J.- LOEHR. 

